Distinguished Hardware Security Engineer

Responsibilities

• ▹Set the security standards, requirements and technical direction for the hardware and embedded software across Cisco's entire product portfolio
• ▹Architect chip- and platform-level roots of trust, including platform firmware resiliency, cryptographic device identity and anti-tamper protections
• ▹Advise business unit engineering leaders and executives on embedded security decisions, translating technical trade-offs into clear business outcomes
• ▹Keep Cisco ahead of emerging regulation, including the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), US federal executive orders and Common Criteria / CNSA mandates
• ▹Work directly with the technical leadership of hyperscaler and cloud-scale customers to translate their security requirements into Cisco's silicon and system roadmaps
• ▹Represent Cisco in industry standards bodies such as OCP Security, TCG, DMTF, GlobalPlatform, IEEE or NIST
• ▹Mentor the next generation of hardware security architects and technical leaders

Requirements

• ▹BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or a related field, with 15+ years of experience in hardware systems design, silicon security or embedded architecture
• ▹Track record as a Distinguished Engineer, Fellow, Chief Architect or senior technical leader driving hardware security strategy at a top-tier networking, semiconductor or hyperscale cloud company
• ▹Deep knowledge of complex networking systems (terabit switches, edge/core routers, security appliances, optical transceivers), board-level design, FPGA/ASIC development and system-level cost/performance trade-offs, with direct experience across design, development, manufacturing and product lifecycle management
• ▹Demonstrated knowledge of applied cryptography, PKI architectures, key management and hardware security countermeasures such as side-channel (DPA/SPA) and fault-injection mitigations
• ▹Outstanding communication skills, able to move fluidly between low-level silicon and firmware detail and executive-level strategy

Nice to have

• ▹Active contribution to, or leadership within, hardware-security standards groups such as OCP Security, TCG (TPM, DICE, CyRes), DMTF (SPDM), GlobalPlatform, FIDO Alliance, RISC-V Security, IEEE, NIST or ETSI
• ▹Hands-on experience with post-quantum cryptography, NIST SP 800-193 platform resiliency, secure enclave design, physical anti-tamper mechanisms or authenticated lifecycle management
• ▹Experience leading products through security certification and regulatory compliance programs such as FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, CNSA or PSA Certified
• ▹Experience conducting hardware security assessments, penetration testing and/or side-channel resiliency testing against hardware and firmware targets

Soft skills

What we offer

• ▹Hybrid work (Raleigh, San Jose or other Cisco hubs), US remote also possible
• ▹Annual bonus under Cisco's policies
• ▹Eligibility for Cisco restricted stock units (RSUs)
• ▹Medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance (US)
• ▹Paid holidays, a paid day off for your birthday, paid year-end shutdown and four paid wellness days; flexible vacation for exempt employees
• ▹80 hours of sick time on hire date and each January 1st, plus up to 10 paid volunteer days a year

About the company

Cisco builds networking, security and data center solutions and has been innovating for 40 years. The Security and Trust Organization is responsible for the trustworthiness of everything Cisco ships, and its Foundational Security Technologies team covers the hardware and firmware layer.